Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Little Kolam

Today, I present a tiny kolam for you…

PS: Because many people asked
me what a Kolam is…

Kolam
refers to
intricate patterns drawn both free handedly and by joining dots. These can be
widely seen in the Southern part of India. Women draw this early morning, preferably
before Sunrise after cleaning the courtyard. Earlier rice powder was used – it was
a means to feed ants and small insects. However, these days, stone powder and
even chalk is used. If such powders are used, it is called Pudi Kolam. Sometimes, brick powder will be used as outline on
auspicious days, Tuesdays and Fridays. If rice powder is mixed in water and
similar patterns are drawn, it is called Maavu/Maa
Kolam. In West Bengal, it is called Alpona.
In North India, people used rice/stone powders for the outline and fill the patterns
with colors. This is called Rangoli.

It is believed that Kolam
brings prosperity. It is drawn for almost all the auspicious occasions like
marriages and festivals. When someone dies in the household, the family don’t draw
any kolam for a year.

Children in small towns learn
the art of making kolam at a very young age. In fact, a girl who knows to draw
impeccable and intricate kolam is a pride for the entire family and the village
she stays. However, owing to modernization, city life and apartment culture,
this art is soon dying.

Thanks...Kolam refers to intricate patterns drawn both free handedly and by joining dots. These can be widely seen in the Southern part of India. Women draw this early morning, preferably before Sunrise after cleaning the courtyard. Earlier rice powder was used – it was a means to feed ants and small insects. However, these days, stone powder and even chalk is used. If such powders are used, it is called Pudi Kolam. Sometimes, brick powder will be used as outline on auspicious days, Tuesdays and Fridays. If rice powder is mixed in water and similar patterns are drawn, it is called Maavu/Maa Kolam. In West Bengal, it is called Alpona. In North India, people used rice/stone powders for the outline and fill the patterns with colors. This is called Rangoli.

It is believed that Kolam brings prosperity. It is drawn for almost all the auspicious occasions like marriages and festivals. When someone dies in the household, the family don’t draw any kolam for a year.

Children in small towns learn the art of making kolam at a very young age. In fact, a girl who knows to draw impeccable and intricate kolam is a pride for the entire family and the village she stays. However, owing to modernization, city life and apartment culture, this art is soon dying.

This is put daily in the early morning outside the porch of houses in Sothern states of India after cleaning the place,sprinkling water in rice flour but often in white stone powder.The admirable idea is to provide food for ants and insects.The designs of kolam are innumerable and mind boggling.There is a geometrical pattern with points to be connected or enveloped.Bengalis call it Alpana and draw with liquid rice flour intricate patterns aesthetically.

Kolam is something I don't normally see in Kerala. But when I was living in Chennai, Kolam is a normal sight. Women get up early in the morning, sweep their front yards, sprinkle water mixed with cow dung and draw intricate Kolams. Many of them were normally drawn with lines connecting numerous dots. However, when dots are made at first it is not possible to know what intricate patterns will emerge. Women from neighboring houses will try to show off their talent by trying to outdo each other I understand during Pongal festival a Kolam competition is held every year in a place called Mylapore. Numerous women take part in this competition. Many thanks for bringing those wonderful memories back to me. Best wishes